New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-28
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS AaRAIGNED
TAXPAYERS OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL DEMAND
TUYIR REMOVAL

THpIR REMOVAL
wAsu1SaroN. July 81 (Special.-At meeting Of
citizens and taxpayers last night grave charges were
preferred against the District Commissioners and
Can,ain svfnons tho army officer who has charge of
the water service. Ex-Water Register Crane read
an elaborate statement recting the financial history
of the Water Department. He stared the cond ton OF
Affairs on June 80, 1886, as follows; Amount that
sboud be on books due for water main tax. exclu
awe of interest and profits June 80. 1886. $3Gl,-
333 05; amount due as per Captain Symonss report
800 743 81 Amount stolen OF misappropriated
$40, $50 81. This steal" continued MIR. Crane
canuot be laid TO another form OF governments,
which was abolished twelve years befcie the report OF
1886"
Alter giving figures to prove that extravaganza
prices have beea paid for water pipe, Mr. Crane con-
tinued: I" In view OF those facts, Captain Svnonss
statements prepostsrous 1t IS eviden that water
rents have been taken to make up dehciencies In
funds that have been stolen or msappropriA'ed ior
tho beneit OF other funds.
Mr. Crane said that ne had account made
of the receipts Of the sales OF old water man pipe
which must amount to a con jderabie sum- nor OF Tue
100000 from the sale OF the Old Central Uaard
House, which was originally purchased with money
from the water fund.
These defalcatons," the speaker added, ana
misappropriation, vt water funds explain why Tue
Commissioners are resorting TO The desperate
means Of sending out bogus water main assessments
to raise furds have seen stated toat they we're
expecting to raise from $lOO,OOJ to SZoO,ooO from
such assessments II they succeed IN what they nave
undertaken the amount realize Will go q goOd way
In helpiup iem out on the deficiency that nave
proved by their figures to exist.
The meeting snimousy adopted series OF resoln-
tions which denounced the conduct oil t0e DlStrlct
commissioners Ia Causing notice TO 0e puoIisneo re-
curing all waertakers to go TO the Water oihce ior
their bills Illegal. ss well as unreasonaoIe anu
despotIc which should the immed date dismissal
from Office OF said Commissioners that III Is the shso
OF this meeting that great extravaganza irreguiariieS
and fraud exist in the msnagem mt OF the water De
fu,eut he
throUgn a long serie. OF years winch cannot ps
remedsd too soon, and We respectfully request tle
Pres OF the United States TO designate some eN
periencsd accounting o'hcer of the Treasury Depart
ment to take charge OF the Water Department ana
audit the same" . =.
Alter requesting the Committee OF One Hundred to
ask the President to have the completion oil the
water works placed under the coa!rc OF more e1'
perienced oiboer,. either General Meigs or colonel
CASEY" in conclusion the resolutions arragn the Com
missioners "recreant to the trust thst mas oeen
cuntded to their care
cided sensation. Commissioners Wnestiey aud Lud-
low Tade general deni,ls OF Mr. Crane CHARGES.
Among other things Mr. Whe'tIey said - nave
not goDe over the hsures and statements care
fully but If they all OF the same character az
that In regard to the old Central Guard House | do
not think any weight need be attached to them,
Ccupiess authorized the sale the property and
DIR ectod that the proceed, should De used IN the
erection Of police station honses The money was
used for the purpose prescribed and oil course tue
water fund not credited with IT,
THE NAVAL RESERVOIR AT NEWPORT
WASHINGTON July 81 tSpeeaD. Respecting the state
ment contained In a letter from Newport, H. l., pub
lshed yesterdays TRIBUNE In regard " the reaeVon
built by the Navy De- artment Oh Coasters HarbOr
Island Commodore Schley, Chief Of the Bureau OF
Equipment and Recruiting to-day said:
"The plans for the reservoir were reviewed ny
City Engineer Cotton. Of Newport, who made Suoh
suggestions az seemed TO him necessary ana who
pronounced the work well done lie felt an interest
in matter and gave US the benefit VI his aaVice
and services free of charge After tho res'rVo or
vas filed some leakage was discovered aud Engineer
Cotton was applied to. He said there was nothing
the reservoir and appiy gravel to tho benches and
joints. That done. The original cost VI the
reservoir two years ago was $500 In repairs
since that time have expended 81 and Jew
cents The reservoir answers the purpose ior wm ,
IL L. required do not think that tt u WORK ~hIcb
deserved so severe a criticism. Captain yates uhosr
whose direction the reservoir was buit, u one ol
the most thorough and CONSCIENTIOUS officers III 'ho
Novv